When it comes to Batman’s greatest success story, most are quick to point to Dick “Nightwing” Grayson, the Dark Knight’s first Robin and eldest son. However, this former Boy Wonder was failed in one major way by Batman, much like most of his predecessors, with the exception of one: Jason “Red Hood” Todd.

When it comes to Batman failing his Robins, most would likely measure this by whether he let them die on the job or perhaps failed them on an emotional level as a father figure. By this logic, Batman’s biggest failure would be Jason Todd, having let him die on the job at just 15 years old, while also maintaining an extremely volatile relationship with this former Boy Wonder.

Even modern storylines, such as Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee’s Hush 2, show the duo at odds and physically attacking each other. For that reason, claiming that Red Hood is Batman’s greatest success story, suring even Nightwing, is a bold statement. Yet it can be defended when it comes to Jason’s legacy.

Why Nightwing Is Perceived as Batman’s Greatest Success (But Actually Isn’t)

Dick Grayson Is Still Defined by the Dark Knight’s Legacy, And Don’t Expect That to Change Anytime Soon

Nightwing is perhaps one of DC’s most unprecedented success stories, consistently ranked among the most popular superheroes despite his moniker not being tied to a flagship mantle. Dick Grayson’s popularity is evident, with consistent top-five placements on Ranker and across various Reddit discussion boards. His success is further cemented by his leadership of the Titans, a superhero team as capable as the Justice League, and his claim over Blüdhaven as his own city to protect. By these standards, few heroes are more successful than the original Boy Wonder.

Yet despite these accomplishments, one flaw remains. Nightwing is still closely tied to Batman, with the Dark Knight’s legacy continuing to define him. In this way, Bruce’s greatest failure may be his inability to let Dick fully escape his shadow. No matter what Nightwing achieves on his own, he remains inseparable from Batman in the eyes of the world. Some fans may argue that Dick has stepped out of Bruce’s shadow, but this is not often reflected in DC’s storytelling.

In fact, recent titles suggest the opposite. In Titans #19 (2025) by John Layman, Killer Frost mocks the team by saying “everyone will always see [the Titans] as the teen sidekick team,” denying their growth and independence. This highlights how even villains still associate Nightwing and his team with their former mentors. The perception extends beyond rogues. In Absolute Power #3 by Mark Waid, a fellow hero dismisses Dick’s authority and refers to him as "Batman’s child." Even after forty years, Nightwing still struggles to establish an identity fully separate from the Dark Knight.

DC Still Won’t Let Tim Drake or Damian Wayne Escape Batman’s Shadow

Robin Is a Cage, Not a Stepping Stone, for Batman’s Heirs

Nightwing isn’t the only sidekick of the Dark Knight who remains defined by his connection to Batman. Damian Wayne and Tim Drake are even more heavily overshadowed by Bruce’s legacy. Both still operate under the Robin mantle, and their recent storylines consistently place them either alongside Batman or involved in plots directly tied to him. The fact that neither has established a lasting identity outside of the Robin role shows that DC has failed to let these characters grow independently.

Tim Drake continues to be measured against Batman, with many of his achievements framed in direct comparison to Bruce. His reputation as the second "world’s greatest detective" and his status as the heir once expected to become the next Batman both reinforce his connection to the Dark Knight. Most of Tim’s modern stories still take place within the Bat-Family and rarely explore his potential outside that circle. Damian, on the other hand, will always be tied to Bruce by blood and lineage. As long as he remains Robin, he will continue to be seen first and foremost as Batman’s son. In both cases, Tim and Damian represent clear examples of Robins who have failed to fully step out from under Batman’s shadow.

Red Hood Is the Only Robin Who Truly Escaped Batman’s Shadow

Jason Todd Rejected Batman’s Legacy in a Way No Other Robin Ever Did

While an argument can certainly be made that Red Hood still remains in Batman’s shadow alongside his brothers, he is arguably the Robin who has come closest to breaking away from it. Jason Todd’s rebirth as a self-reliant anti-hero was, without a doubt, the furthest any Robin has ever flown from the legacy of Batman. Unlike Dick Grayson, who evolved into Nightwing while still upholding Bruce’s core ideals, Jason completely rejected Batman’s code, morals, and philosophy. That level of separation is something even Blüdhaven’s protector hasn’t fully achieved.

Red Hood notably began operating in a way that was distinctly “un-Bat-like,” most notably by discarding Batman’s no-killing and no-gun rules. This drastically set him apart, to the point where, despite wearing the Bat symbol on his chest, Gotham’s underworld no longer considered him “one of the Bats.” His methods were so unorthodox that they couldn’t reconcile his identity with the rest of the Bat-Family. Another key factor that helped solidify Red Hood’s independence was his refusal to seek Bruce’s approval, a tether that continues to bind the rest of Batman’s Robins, past and present, to his legacy.

However, the most defining factor in Red Hood’s break from Batman’s shadow was the damning line Bruce himself drew between the boy he once raised and the man who returned wearing the Red Hood. In many early 2000s stories, Batman made a clear distinction between the Jason he knew and the vigilante who now operated outside his moral code. That rejection became the catalyst for Jason to truly graduate from Bruce’s influence in a way none of the other Robins ever have. Ironically, the Robin fans who once hate-voted to die at the hands of the Joker is now the only one who can be called a true success, a Robin who actually flew the nest and carved out his own legacy.